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Downtown Chicago Shops


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I can't stand the idea of buying a Leica via the net. I need to handle the

item I will purchase.

 

So I will be spending a few days in the city of Chicago. Can someone recommend

stores that actually carry used Leica M2 and M4 cameras that are within

walking distance of the loop?

 

Ultimately I will be purchasing an M2 or M4 and the original 35mm F1.4

Summicron and shade. Then I will be done with hardware. (If my spouse is

reading, I add "Honest, Honey! Honest!"

 

Still looking to sell the RF Combat Graphic 70mm kit, but that might be way

down the road.

 

Thank you in advance,

j

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"I can't stand the idea of buying a Leica via the net. I need to handle the item I will purchase."

 

I'm with you 100% in principle (another) John, but unfortunately these days going that route you might have to rack up quite a few frequent-flyer miles trying to find what you're after. With everyone having access to eBay as an avenue to sell their gear for substantially more than any dealer would offer, the pickins at stores are very slim and rather than being priced competitively with eBay, they're jacked way up to take advantage of the few of us who would rather not buy sight-unseen. I would still consider buying "via the net" in terms of expanding your search to legitimate retailers like KEH, Tamarkin and others, as these folks don't tend to over-rate their stuff, and because they buy cheap and get repairs at dealer rates they can afford to get things fixed before selling them, unlike eBay where there's usually little or no markup room for the average trader.

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There is but one camera store, Central.

 

Altman, what became Wolf, store next to Altmans, Shutan on Randolph St. movred to Skokie, Camera World on Frankin, are all gone and have been for some time.

 

The managers from Altman started Helix and it was good but has shrunk to average+ size with pretty high prices. I don`t give them long.

 

Calumet is on the near North. The neighborhood you must pass thru and distance necessitate a cab. Not much 35mm used anyway.

 

Wabash and Randolph had Blackhaw restrarunt, a decent camera store,and Altmans which was really first class, all in a row . All are gone including Blackhawk which was there 50/100 years.

 

Downtown Chicago is totally classless compared 50 years ago. Nothing but the structures remain. Stores are still there,some with the same name, but merchandice is garbage. Abercrombie and Fisk sell sweat shirts instead of $1000 suits. Brooks Bros at least sells suits.

 

Call Central and ask before you travel. They will have some good things, but they will also sell a totally frozen camera. ASK condition and pray. I will say they are honest as can be and will return your money up to 30 days. Donald is trying his best to keep the 100 year business going.

 

I think the same can be said of camera stores and cities in general.

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Call them ahead, John. The last time I went there (about two months ago) they only had a Leica M7 body. Very few M lenses (except for a bunch of Hectors and 135 Elmarit, I think). Never hesitate if they can go down on something, as their prices for used tend to be a bit high. However, they offer you a one-year warranty on used stuff, which nobody else offers. See to go to Helix too! I've bought from them, although mostly ordering by the phone. They're good at some things...
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<b>Ronald Moravec</b><i> The managers from Altman started Helix </i><p>

 

That would be Selwin Schwartz, and company. Ralph Altman shut down his shop when employees began to machinate to become unionized. I admired Ralph for that.

<p>

A colleague and I went there during Altman's last-days sale. He was a National Geographic stringer (later staff). He bought two Hologon cameras for something like $500 each.<p>

It was a madhouse. Sales men were saying, quite loud so that everyone could hear, "There will be no demonstrations! Please state what you wish to purchase!"<p>

 

I was too broke to buy anything.

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"Helix is where I go when I shop locally and IMO, they're less costly than Central. If Central was the last camera store in America, I'd take up knitting."

 

 

Conni, in 1981, I started working part-time at P J's Camera in Glen Ellyn when I graduated from high school. Since then, I've seen at least two dozen Chicago area camera stores close. With, for instance, Nikon whoring-out even higher-end products to Best Buy and Circuit City, its getting harder and harder to operate a real camera store.

 

 

Helix camera's owner is getting old and recently sold the Oak Park store, which is now a Holiday Camera location. Let's hope your quip isn't a prophecy and that you don't have to pass your days crocheting toilet seat covers.

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I would be wary of buying a used camera from Central Camera...I've bought from many of the long disappeared Chicago & Oak Park shops (when they had Leica counters and bins), and I've bought accessories & new Nikon lenses from Central. Their used camera shelves look like a junk auto dealer's yard...and some stuff is covered with dust- but let me assure you, no "bargains"...they know the pricing very well. Stop in and look things over...get any guarantees in writing. Personally, I'd trust KEH, or Tamarkin in NYC. I've bought and sold Leicas on the web with very satisfactory results...but due diligence and communications with the selling party in advance are absolutely essential, as well as planning for a CLA, unless one was recently done by a reputable repairperson like DAG, Sherry or Solms.
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The salesmen at Central don't seem to want your money. Just looking around, it seems slow, don't believe it. They pass you around from place to place, saying, "That's not my area." Don't go unless you have picked it out and are waving exact change. Every time I've been there, I have to allow a half hour to even get film. Far worse than Helix which is no great shakes either.
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What a sad thread for an old Chicagoian.

 

Downtown was, indeed, the location of several fine camera stores as well as retailers like

Abercrombie & Fitch, Marshall Fields and the like. Now all gone or just shells. In 1963 I

bought am handsome Browning 20 ga over and under shotgun from A & F. Abundant

selection there. Their second floor had cases filled with fine sporting firearms and hard to

locate premium fishing gear. Same for Fields' Men's Store across the street. Going to

Scotland for some fly fishing? They had sales people who knew exactly what you should

take along and could supply it on the spot from behind their glass. Rods, reels, lures,

lines, vests, the works. Same for the clerks in good camera stores like Altman's and

Central. Never imagined it would all pass, though Central is hanging on.

 

In 1985 I closed my wet darkroom and sold the whole thing to Central for what I felt was a

very fair sum. They sent a clerk out in their delivery truck (!) to pick it all up. I was

moving to Santa Barbara where the f/Nine club had a beautiful darkroom available for

members. Well used, well maintained with chemistry always fresh and counters spotless,

very well equipped with four fine enlargers. No need for my own new set-up. Little did I

(or they) dream that digital would come on in the wink of an eye. The darkroom is now

seldom used, then only by one or two members. Our shows are nearly all of digital prints.

You fill in the rest of the tale.

 

Santa Barbara is blessed with three excellent camera stores - Samy's, Calumet, and Russes'

(which caters to our many tourists) - but all are to some degree on hard times. Sales

clerks in one have a contest going. First one to get a customer asking for a film camera

wins big.

 

Fond memories.

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I moved far away from Chicago in 1997, but I agree with Frank Nesbitt's assessment of it. I used to walk downtown from the North Side in 1962. No fear at all. Could walk around the "Loop" (downtown area) after dark on a Sunday with no fear at all. When I left in '97, you'd be taking your life in your hands. Fact is, you'd be taking your life in your hands after the mid-'60s.

 

Altmann's was the absolute finest camera shop. If I were looking for a camera today, I'd attend one of the large camera shows in the near suburbs, accessible by the CTA. That is where you'd be most likely to locate something good at a decent price. These are advertised in the Chicago papers. These were very large affairs.

 

Helix had a good Leica counter when I left in '97, but don't know about now. The prices can be scary. They are on Racine Avenue, about 300 south, as I recall, right off the "Blue Line" subway. This is a mile west of downtown.

 

Central Camera seemed to be an unfriendly place. Too crowded. Guards are posted to supress thievery. Salespeople were condescending. They're just reacting to the times, I suppose.

 

Best place to buy used Leica is probably right here on this board.

 

The "gas shortage" of 1973 saw gasoline prices skyrocket. Everything else (except my wages) followed it. We might be witnessing a repeat now. If you don't eat, drive or live under a roof, inflation isn't really all that bad!

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I'd go to Central. I'd deal with Don, the owner. He's well informed, gracious, and honest. He has helped me (as a *very small* customer, based upon purchase volume) several times, and never steered me wrong. <p>

 

And when you leave the store, you'll be practically at the Art Institute, where you'll see the <a href=http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/exhibition/callahan>Harry Callahan Exhibit</a>, you lucky dog you. :) <p>

 

Have fun, and good luck. <p>

 

/s/ AFCWMCCC <p>

 

[Another former Chicagoan who misses the city and Central Camera]

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<b>Frank Horn </b> <i>I moved far away from Chicago in 1997, but I agree with Frank Nesbitt's assessment of it. I used to walk downtown from the North Side in 1962. No fear at all. [...]</i><p>

 

As a cautious person, I carried a Leica M2 with collapsed 50mm lens on a short strap under my arm, under my jacket. (clip on strap to get it out easily.)<p>

One late evening I was one of a couple people on the El platform. Three nervous, coyote-eyed dudes were pacing up and down the platform. I knew they were casing the situation. One came up to me and said something distracting, like "My man..." and poked me, his finger hitting the camera under my coat. His eyes turned into saucers, mouth dropped, and he mumbled "Da man" and moved out fast, the rest follwed.<p>

My guess is that he thought it was a concealed weapon. But he was wrong. The 45 Auto was in a back holster.

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"Abercrombie & Fitch ... had cases filled with fine sporting firearms ... The 45 Auto was in a back holster."

 

 

To bring you up to speed, its now a felony for a law-abiding citizen of Chicago to even own or possess- let alone carry- a firearm. In Chicago, the truism is true- guns are outlawed and only the outlaws have guns.

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Many of us locals carried for personal defense when CCW was "only" a misdemeanor, but felonization back in the 90s changed that. Illinois is one of only two states remaining with no legal form of CCW. (WI is the other, and that's expected to change shortly.)

 

Central is the place to go.

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